Italy's Luna Rossa kicked off the America's Cup challenger series semi-finals on Tuesday with a victory over a game Artemis in the Swedish team's belated debut in the event.
Skipper Max Sirena and the Luna Rossa crew won the 15.83-nautical-mile race on San Francisco Bay by two minutes in winds that averaged 16 knots.
For Artemis, just making it to the start line was a triumph.
The team suffered a devastating setback in May when their first AC72 catamaran capsized and broke apart in training. British crewman Andrew Simpson died in the accident.
Since then Artemis have been working feverishly to get their second AC72, dubbed "Big Blue" for its striking navy blue hulls, ready to race.
They missed the round-robin stage, in which Team New Zealand defeated Luna Rossa to advance to the challenger finals, and Tuesday marked just their ninth day in their new boat, as opposed to the 80th day of practice or racing for Luna Rossa.
Nevertheless, Artemis helmsman Nathan Outteridge won the start and led around the first mark.
"We're really, really pumped in Artemis Racing and super proud," said skipper Iain Percy.
"To think that one week after launching we'd be sailing around the racecourse in 20 knots is beyond my wildest imagination. All the team support boats came over after the race and were cheering and clapping."
Luna Rossa were dismayed to see shortly before the start that the plastic film on the massive wing sail, known as Clysar, was peeling off the frame.
Bowman Nick Hutton fixed the issue with some tape, but the team had to keep an eye on the situation all day.
"Obviously, we're happy to have the point, but I'm not happy with what happened to the wing because it's something we should avoid at this level," Sirena said.
"But it's been a good day for us. I think we took some pressure off of us and for sure tomorrow we'll sail better than today. Touch wood, we'll have no problems."
Artemis' lack of experience showed when soon after rounding the mark they jibed to port and came off the hydrofoils that lift the twin hulls out of the water.
They slowed dramatically and Luna Rossa surged past to gain a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
Race two of the semi-final round is set for Wednesday. The winners of the series will take on Team New Zealand in the challenger finals for the right to take on defenders Team USA in the America's Cup finals in September.
